The Sound of Animals Fighting are an experimental/prog rock band from Los A… Read Full Bio ↴The Sound of Animals Fighting are an experimental/prog rock band from Los Angeles, California that incorporated many members, including members from bands such as Finch, Rx Bandits, Circa Survive and Chiodos. The group was brought together by Rich Balling.

All parts of the album Tiger and the Duke were recorded individually and each member was only able to hear the part they contributed to the album. The only member who heard the whole album during its recording process was Balling. The group released their next album Lover, the Lord Has Left Us... on May 30th, 2006.

Keith Goodwin was announced as one of the vocalists for the next album, taking on the pseudonym of 'The Penguin'.

The Sound of Animals Fighting have only performed live four times, all of which were released on a DVD, entitled "We Must Become The Change We Want To See". Three of their four shows took place in California (Anaheim, L.A., and San Diego), USA, and one in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

With the release of The Ocean And The Sun, the band issued a series of 400 masks, 100 of each of 4 designs, paired with a 7" for a limited preorder of the album. This was the first and only vinyl release and novelty item sold by the band.

In 2022 the band would be revived with a similar line-up as before, and would release the 4 track EP "APESHIT" (their first musical content in 14 years) to promote their 13 date tour across the US in January of 2023.

Original Lineup(Tiger And The Duke):

The Nightingale - Rich Balling (Vocals), formerly of the Rx Bandits.
The Walrus - Matt Embree (Lead Guitar), Lead Vocals/Guitar for Rx Bandits.
The Lynx - Chris Tsagakis (Drums), Drums for Rx Bandits.
The Tiger - Randy "R2K" Strohmeyer (Guitar), Guitar for Finch.
The Tortoise - Derek Doherty (Bass), Bass for Finch.
The Skunk - Anthony Green (Vocals), Vocalist for Circa Survive.
The Bear - Chris Fudurich (Mixing and Programming), Produced for Rx Bandits, Nada Surf, and Allister.
The Raven - Marc Mcknight (Artwork), Bass for Atreyu.
The Swan - Vanessa Chibba (Public Relations)
The Dog - Chris Haynie (Author of Story that Accompanies the Music)
The Ferret - Kyle Homme (Engineer)
The Octopus - Charlie Adams (Patrone)
The Armadillo - Rich Zahniser (Engineer, Vocals), Ex-Hippos
The Llamma - Matthew Kelly (Vocals), Vocalist for The Autumns

Previous Lineup(Lover, The Lord Has Left Us...):

The Nightingale - Rich Balling (Vocals), formerly of the Rx Bandits.
The Walrus - Matt Embree (Lead Guitar), Lead Vocals/Guitar for the Rx Bandits.
The Lynx - Chris Tsagakis (Drums), Drums for the Rx Bandits.
The Hyena - Ryan Baker (Recording, Mixing).
The Skunk - Anthony Green (Vocals), Vocalist for Circa Survive.
The Giraffe - Stephen O'Malley (Album Artwork), Guitarist for Sunn O))).
The Ram - Craig Owens (Vocals), former Vocalist of Chiodos and Cinematic Sunrise.
The Penguin - Keith Goodwin (Vocals), Vocalist for Days Away and Good Old War.
The Wolf - Matthew Kelly (Vocals), Vocalist for The Autumns.

Previous Lineup (The Ocean and The Sun):

The Nightingale - Rich Balling (Vocals), formerly of the Rx Bandits.
The Walrus - Matt Embree (Guitar, Bass, and Production), Lead Vocals/Guitar for the Rx Bandits.
The Lynx - Chris Tsagakis (Drums), Drums for the Rx Bandits.
The Skunk - Anthony Green (Vocals), Vocalist for Circa Survive.
The Wolf - Matthew Kelly (Vocals), Vocalist for The Autumns provides guest vocals on "On The Occasion Of Wet Snow"

Current Lineup (APESHIT):

The Nightingale - Rich Balling (Vocals), formerly of the Rx Bandits.
The Walrus - Matt Embree (Guitar, Bass, and Production), Lead Vocals/Guitar for the Rx Bandits.
The Lynx - Chris Tsagakis (Drums), Drums for the Rx Bandits.
The Skunk - Anthony Green (Vocals), Vocalist for Circa Survive.
The Wolf - Matthew Kelly (Vocals), Vocalist for The Autumns
The Penguin - Keith Goodwin (Vocals), Vocalist for Days Away and Good Old War.
Jonathan Hischke (Bass) and Steve Choi (Guitar and Keyboard) are also in the touring lineup, however have not been listed with monikers.

Un'Aria
The Sound of Animals Fighting Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

In this room the hours of love
Differ in shades of grey
Still make shadows

In this room the hours of love
Differ in fears, we'll shake lovers
That on this day, search our dark noon

Where worms creep out in sunlight
To be raped

By birds as they feed
To be raped as they feed

Overall Meaning

In these cryptic lyrics, The Sound of Animals Fighting describes a room where the hours of love are different shades of grey and they still make shadows. This can be interpreted as a metaphorical representation of a love that has turned dull and lost its vibrant hues. Despite this, the shadows still remain - perhaps representing the remnants of once-passionate emotions that linger on. The second verse further builds on this theme of contrast, as the hours of love differ not in color but in fear. This fear is perhaps reflective of the uncertainty and vulnerability that comes with love. The line "we'll shake lovers" could indicate an attempt to rid oneself of these fears and reaffirm the connection they share.

Line by Line Meaning

In this room the hours of love
Within this space, affectionate moments occur

Differ in shades of grey
They vary in degrees of ambiguity

Still make shadows
Yet they produce a sense of obscurity

Differ in fears, we'll shake lovers
They vary in anxieties that will unsettle relationships

That on this day, search our dark noon
Those who seek fulfillment in the midst of despair

Where worms creep out in sunlight
Here, where repulsive creatures come out in light

To be raped
Subjected to violation and exploitation

By birds as they feed
By predators as they hungrily consume

To be raped as they feed
Victimized as they are engaged in basic survival

Contributed by Alex L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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